Disclaimer's on the first chapter. Oh, and the new thing in this one that I don't own is Stavromula Beta, a planet made up by Douglas Adams (R.I.P.). I'm not the greatest at creating names for things, so I borrowed from my favorite author.
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Author's note: Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming. And as for Haruko/Raharu, I know that she's a little off, but I guess I'm trying to put it into the perspective of two years before FLCL. Who knows, maybe the events in this story will be the source of Haruko's weirdness during the show.
Italics means thought, unless it's used for emphasis or other obvious purposes.
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Name: Haruhara Raharu
Officer #: 73867
Preferred Weapon: Bass Guitar
Rank: Space Patrol Trainee
Missions Completed: 0
Current Mission: N/A
Comments: None.
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A man was looking at this. A man who had had enough to deal with today already. The more he read it, the angrier he became. Especially that middle part. Space Patrol Trainee. Every time he heard the word 'trainee,' it was like someone scratching their nails down a chalkboard.
He looked from the computer screen to the pink-haired girl standing in front of his desk, and then back again. He looked at her again, and then said, "You must be this prodigy kid that the Academy sent over. I don't care who are, to me you're just another little punk who wants to be a big, bad space cop." He opened up a drawer in his desk, then pulled out coffee and donuts. He picked out a donut with pink frosting and started munching on it like there was no tommorrow.
"Yeah, I am," said Raharu bluntly. She had her bass strapped around her back, and she was about ready to pull it out and sock him. This was the chief, though, and she couldn't afford to screw up that badly on her first day.
The Chief stopped his ravenous feasting to say, "I suppose you want a job, then."
"Well, yeah, that's why I'm here," she said, trying not to be rude to her new boss.
"Good. Go out there and find officer Amarao, and tell him that you are the new recruit. Tag along with him for his next assignment, and I'll have him tell me whether you are worthy of a badge," he said, flipping out his own shiny badge, then polishing it with his tie.
"Fair enough," she said, and then left without seeing if he dismissed her. He didn't seem to care; his donut was enough company for him.
Outside the Chief's office, the GSPB Headquarters was bustling with activity. As Raharu walked by two officers talking at the water cooler, she heard one of them say, "…and I heard that Atomsk has declared war on Medical Mechanica." Atomsk? That name sounds familiar…maybe I should've paid more attention in class thought Raharu. But right now I've gotta find…what's his name? Amoro, or something? She walked up to one of the computer terminals lining the walls.
"How can I help you?" asked the computer, the words flashing red across the screen.
"Yeah, I'm looking for Officer Amoro," Raharu told the computer.
The computer paused for a second, the words "Please wait" flashing on the screen. Then it said, "Did you mean Officer Amarao?"
"Whatever! Where is he?" she exclaimed. This computer was a piece of junk. She felt like taking out her bass and showing it who was boss, but the computer was suddenly showing a map. There was a little dot labeled "You are Here," and there was a dot labeled "Officer Amarao's Office." Raharu studied it for a second, then walked off in the indicated direction.
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Meanwhile, a very disgruntled-looking man was trying desperately to open a can of soda. He had short, orange hair, very tiny fingernails (hence his current predicament), and no eyebrows. He was concentrating so hard on pulling up that little tab that he didn't even notice Raharu walk up until she was sitting on top of his desk.
"Lemme see that," she said, and she quickly grabbed the can out of his hand. She opened it, took a swig, and handed it back to him.
"Who're you?" he asked, trying to keep his cool. He fumbled around for his sunglasses, then put them on. He wasn't about to take that soda back, though. It wasn't even the right kind of soda. It was sour, and too carbonated anyway.
At this point, Raharu stood on the desk, knocking the can of soda away completely, and lifted her bass above her head. "I am Haruhara Raharu, soon-to-be space cop extraordinaire." She jumped down behind him, forcing him to spin in his chair to see her. "But for now, the Chief told me to tell you to tag along with you."
Amarao seemed surprised, and he lost what little composure he had had. "The Chief thought I was good enough to take on a rookie?" A little late, he tried to maintain some dignity by saying, "I mean, of course he did. It's nice to meet you…Raharu, was it?"
"Yeah." What's with all the idiots today? thought Raharu to herself. "So what do we do?"
Amarao furrowed his brows (or lack thereof), deep in thought, and finally came up with, "We wait for an assignment."
As though on cue, a lady who looked strangely like Miss Happy Pill from the academy came over to Amarao and said, "New assignment from the Chief, sir. Our sensors are picking up a lot of N.O. activity around Stavromula Beta, and we're dispatching a couple of teams to investigate. The Chief thought it would be a good opportunity to test out the new recruit."
"I see." He stood up and asked, "You got a way to travel?"
"Yeah, I've got a vespa. Will that do?"
"Perfectly. I've got one, too. Just follow behind me until we get there," he said, and then headed towards the exit.
Raharu stood up, then followed. They went to an elevator, down five stories, out of the elevator, left, right, left, right, left, left, right, and then through double doors to the garage. Then they wandered around for twenty minutes while Amarao cursed and stomped his foot on the ground, because he couldn't find his vespa.
"Damn it, it was RIGHT HERE!" he screamed. Raharu pointed a finger towards a red vespa in the corner spot.
"Is that it?" she asked.
Amarao, turned red, then purple, then red, then green, before responding weakly, "Uh…yeah, it is." He got on, then said, "You want a ride? There's plenty of room." (A la Kamon)
Raharu whistled, and her yellow vespa came skidding around the corner, screeching to a halt in front of her. "No, that's ok. Just lead on to Stavromu-something, I'll be behind you," she said as she mounted her bike and strapped on her goggles.
"Whatever you say," he said before peeling out, with Raharu right behind him. They flew out of the garage's exit, and out into the stars.
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AN: OK, maybe I'm wrong in assuming that Amarao is a member of the Space Police Brotherhood, but oh well. And I'm pretty sure his vespa is red, but if it isn't, say so and I'll change it. So remember to review!
